Brain Fog Recovery.

[jpt2014]

Hi all,

Does anyone suffer with brain fog?

If so how long did it take to go after you ceased eating gluten?

 

I have had brain fog for a long time now, pretty much solid for the last 3 years.

I am desperate to get rid of it.

I've tried all sorts to shift it and recently read about the links to gluten intolerence.

 

For 5 weeks so far I have been gluten free.

After 2 days my unpredictable stomach issues (gas, bloating, loose output etc) which I thought were just the way I am have cleared up completely and I now have a near perfect stomach for the first time I can remember.

The change here has been incredible and it's great but it is the fog I am desperate to clear.

 

After 5 weeks I have seen no change at all in my levels of brain fog.

Has anyone had any experience of this or can offer any advice.

Thanks all,

SD

 

 

[SkyBlue4]

Hi all,

Does anyone suffer with brain fog?

If so how long did it take to go after you ceased eating gluten?

 

I have had brain fog for a long time now, pretty much solid for the last 3 years.

I am desperate to get rid of it.

I've tried all sorts to shift it and recently read about the links to gluten intolerence.

 

For 5 weeks so far I have been gluten free.

After 2 days my unpredictable stomach issues (gas, bloating, loose output etc) which I thought were just the way I am have cleared up completely and I now have a near perfect stomach for the first time I can remember.

The change here has been incredible and it's great but it is the fog I am desperate to clear.

 

After 5 weeks I have seen no change at all in my levels of brain fog.

Has anyone had any experience of this or can offer any advice.

Thanks all,

SD

I have serious brain fog, too! I am embarrassed fairly frequently by my inability to think clearly and recall facts especially in professional environments. I have a laundry list of symptoms that I can attribute to celiac disease but I am hoping my brain fog will be among one of the first symptoms to clear. 

[Mommy19]

Hi all,

Does anyone suffer with brain fog?

If so how long did it take to go after you ceased eating gluten?

 

I have had brain fog for a long time now, pretty much solid for the last 3 years.

I am desperate to get rid of it.

I've tried all sorts to shift it and recently read about the links to gluten intolerence.

 

For 5 weeks so far I have been gluten free.

After 2 days my unpredictable stomach issues (gas, bloating, loose output etc) which I thought were just the way I am have cleared up completely and I now have a near perfect stomach for the first time I can remember.

The change here has been incredible and it's great but it is the fog I am desperate to clear.

 

After 5 weeks I have seen no change at all in my levels of brain fog.

Has anyone had any experience of this or can offer any advice.

Thanks all,

SD

Hello, I have experienced major brain fog over the years, my doctor checked my vitamin levels and because of my Celiac I was Vitamin b-12 deficient, and vitamin D Deficient, when I started taking supplements to bring my levels up, my brain fog went away completley, it also helped with my neuropathy, I would ask your doctor to check you vitamin levels to see if you may be deficient. My doctor said I may be able to regain absorbtion in my intestines after a few years of being gluten free but the healing can take some time.

[greenbeanie]

Welcome!

My brain fog took a good three months to improve. My long-standing diarrhea, night sweats, and insomnia improved within days of going gluten-free, but impaired memory and coordination difficulties actually seemed to get slightly worse before they got better. Then I suddenly realized one day that I hadn't walked into any door frames or forgotten what I was doing in quite a while. It was great!

I have celiac in the family but no clear diagnosis myself, so I can't say definitively that my neurological problems were due to gluten. However, I was hospitalized for ataxia in the past, and doctors never found an explanation then. All of my previous memory and balance problems are slowly but steadily improving now, after almost four months gluten free. I have been completely strict, with a gluten-free household (celiac daughter), no restaurant food except occasional Chipotle salads, and almost everything cooked from scratch at home. I definitely do not feel like my brain fog is gone or my memory is normal, but it's improved enough that I can carry on a normal conversation without forgetting what I was saying in the middle (unlike before). The neurological improvements seem to parallel improvements in rashes I've had for 30 years - that is to say, much slower than improvements in the digestive symptoms, but more or less steady improvements at this point.

My advice is to stick with it for at least a few months, even if you see no obvious improvement in the brain fog at first. Hopefully the brain fog will lift soon. Good luck!

[w8in4dave]

 Brain Fog ?????... whats that from? What? Huh? What is her name? Whatchamacallit? The one thing? Fiddle Fart? Sweetpea? Honeypie? Ohhh I'm sorry I didn't catch that.... Ughhh What movie? What happened? Yea ummm I have no Idea what that is!! Then Boom!! I remembered something one day! I was amazed at my self!! Hmmm Cannot remember what it was or what day! but I do know I remembered something....... Brain Fog!! Sometime one day it may clear .. then fog up again, then clear .. somedays it may be clearer some days it may be foggier ... But there will be days!! Good luck!! Hope this explains it! 

[1desperateladysaved]

Hi all,

Does anyone suffer with brain fog?

If so how long did it take to go after you ceased eating gluten?

 

I have had brain fog for a long time now, pretty much solid for the last 3 years.

I am desperate to get rid of it.

I've tried all sorts to shift it and recently read about the links to gluten intolerence.

 

For 5 weeks so far I have been gluten free.

After 2 days my unpredictable stomach issues (gas, bloating, loose output etc) which I thought were just the way I am have cleared up completely and I now have a near perfect stomach for the first time I can remember.

The change here has been incredible and it's great but it is the fog I am desperate to clear.

 

After 5 weeks I have seen no change at all in my levels of brain fog.

Has anyone had any experience of this or can offer any advice.

Thanks all,

SD

Yes, brain fog.  It has gone away.  I figured out that I had it when it went away.  Then I realized I had, had it for 30 years!  Here are some of the things I did that solved it:

 

Vitamin supplements (Nutrient level tests are good I think)

gluten free diet

I even had to do grain free diet (I might have more than a gluten problem though)  Keep everything in your diet that you can.

Avoided foods that I was intolerant to and  rotational diet.

Supplements for enzymes, probiotic, and adrenal support.  Adrenal problems were a key factor for me.

 

I am now 18+ months gluten free.  My fog cleared and hasn't returned.  I hope to hear a similar story from you in the future.  Don't give up.  You can find whatever formula works for you in time.

 

D

[1desperateladysaved]

 Brain Fog ?????... whats that from? What? Huh? What is her name? Whatchamacallit? The one thing? Fiddle Fart? Sweetpea? Honeypie? Ohhh I'm sorry I didn't catch that.... Ughhh What movie? What happened? Yea ummm I have no Idea what that is!! Then Boom!! I remembered something one day! I was amazed at my self!! Hmmm Cannot remember what it was or what day! but I do know I remembered something....... Brain Fog!! Sometime one day it may clear .. then fog up again, then clear .. somedays it may be clearer some days it may be foggier ... But there will be days!! Good luck!! Hope this explains it! 

Yeah, I know what you mean!

[jpt2014]

Thanks for your answers.

I'll definitely be carrying on with it.

I've been on the vitamins for several months now.

The other symptom I have that may or may be related is phlegm, I have constant phlegm.

 

But I say again it's the brain fog that is the big problem, as a computer programmer it is affecting my ability to work effectively, it also generally takes the edge off everything.

A lot of people think it's just normal tiredness, you can see it in their eyes when you tell them, but it's not.

The day it goes I'll be having a party.

 

Thanks again.

[anjacherry]

I noticed a almost instant improvement with the brainfog after going gluten free i have only been gluten-free for two weeks. I have noticed certain foods although labeled gluten-free still effect me, so i am eating pure foods only fresh fruit, veg, meat, rice, potato etc. and rice cakes has to be the plain salted ones though. its a pain in the bum and i get very hungry sometimes but only when i do this do i feel fantastic. I suggest u do this and keep a food diary and note how u feel or if u get any symtoms. Once u feel symtom free slowly introduce things and see how your body reacts to it. I thought i was being clever the other day and brought some chocolate and scoffed it on the way home within 20 minutes i had major brain fog my head was in a bubble and vertigo kicked in and i just wanted to curl up in a corner and be left alone, so i studied the chocolate label and booom it was glucose syrup that done me in. I didnt know it was made from wheat so i am back to natural food only for now ocationally adding something i am not sure about one thing at the time and waiting for a reaction. i also seem to have slight reactions to gluten free bread so can only asume there is something other than gluten i am reacting to as well. Just a sugesstion hope this helps. Good luck .

[1desperateladysaved]

Hi all,

Does anyone suffer with brain fog?

If so how long did it take to go after you ceased eating gluten?

 

I have had brain fog for a long time now, pretty much solid for the last 3 years.

I am desperate to get rid of it.

I've tried all sorts to shift it and recently read about the links to gluten intolerence.

 

For 5 weeks so far I have been gluten free.

After 2 days my unpredictable stomach issues (gas, bloating, loose output etc) which I thought were just the way I am have cleared up completely and I now have a near perfect stomach for the first time I can remember.

The change here has been incredible and it's great but it is the fog I am desperate to clear.

 

After 5 weeks I have seen no change at all in my levels of brain fog.

Has anyone had any experience of this or can offer any advice.

Thanks all,

SD

OOps, I missed my other answer to this somehow, I hope you won't mind.

 

Brain fog for 30 years and I have been delivered from it.  I am about 18 months gluten free.  Here is a list of things I have done:

 

 prayed for healing.

 took vitamin and mineral supplements.

 went gluten free.

 went grain free.

read the forum for instruction and ideas.

 waited and went through withdrawal and cross contamination issues.

 did a food antibody test and stopped eating foods I had antibodies to.

 took IGG to help heal my gut.

 started pancreatic enzymes to help break down my food.

 used a rotational diet.  This helped to find foods I didn't tolerate.

Added sublingual B12 to my supplements.

used adrenal support herbs

 

Please don't give up while you can try all of the ideas available. For now waiting may be needed.  I know it is hard when you are in the fog.  But one day I want you to come up the mountain and out of the clouds as I did.  Sometimes my fog was heaviest just before a clearing.  Hang in there.

 

D

[jpt2014]

Thanks for taking the time to answer, I much appreciate them.

I'm just over 10 weeks gluten free and as I said before my stomach health is the best it has ever been which is great.

Still brain fogged though, no change.

I've kept a food diary but no matter what I do the fog is dead steady day after day.

 

I know that gluten can prevent vitamin absorption that in turn causes the fog but I've had blood tests several times in the past and my levels are good.

That being the case I'm losing hope that gluten is the problem.

But, gluten and me are through, my stomach is great so I'm sticking with it.

Hopefully there is some other reason why the gluten causes fog that I don't know about and it will suddenly lift.

 

It's good to talk to fellow foggers though, thanks all.

[1desperateladysaved]

Thanks for taking the time to answer, I much appreciate them.

I'm just over 10 weeks gluten free and as I said before my stomach health is the best it has ever been which is great.

Still brain fogged though, no change.

I've kept a food diary but no matter what I do the fog is dead steady day after day.

 

I know that gluten can prevent vitamin absorption that in turn causes the fog but I've had blood tests several times in the past and my levels are good.

That being the case I'm losing hope that gluten is the problem.

But, gluten and me are through, my stomach is great so I'm sticking with it.

Hopefully there is some other reason why the gluten causes fog that I don't know about and it will suddenly lift.

 

It's good to talk to fellow foggers though, thanks all.

Did you have your adrenal gland function test.  Orthostatic blood pressure can be used to see if these glands are functioning well.  My practitioner told me that long term celiac will really tax these little organs.  Orthostatic blood pressure is taking the blood pressure while laying down, standing and retaking it.  It should rise and then come back down.  Mine use to plummet upon standing.  Some herbal adrenal support helped to snap out of the fog.

All the same to you.

D

[BelleVie]

I have found that in addition to gluten causing brain fog, sugar spikes can cause it as well. If I eat something very starchy, like potatoes or a cup of sweet tea, I often feel brain-foggy very quickly. You might try limiting your carbohydrates for a while to see if that helps the problem. I hope you feel better soon! Brain fog is just AWFUL. 

[jpt2014]

Thanks, I will keep this advice in mind and try them out.

[GF Lover]

It took me around a year and a half to see real improvement.  It was like a switch finally turned on.  I could again remember things, recall details and could finally find those words I wanted to use but would allude me.   I was un-diagnosed for a very long time so it may have taken me longer. 

 

Colleen

[NoGlutenCooties]

Along with the Vit B and Vit D that others mentioned, make sure to have your iron levels checked too.  Low iron can make you tired and contribute to brain fog.  Getting enough protein is also very important.  I try to get a bit of protein every few hours (nuts, cottage cheese, yogurt, a protein bar).  It helps stabelize your blood sugar levels too.

[ceej1979]

I suffer from brain fog. I've only recently (after 7+ years of suffering from it) realized what it was.

 

My story is complicated, as I have had another serious illness - so much of my symptoms I attributed to that, or the medication.

 

I struggle greatly with concentration. As in, I often find it hard to do any work during the day - no matter what the concequences are, or the deadlines.

 

I have managed this, by doing the work at nights, or weekends (when, magically, I hadn't eaten for a while!)

 

My main problem though, is my eyes. And swollen face (at times). I am hoping these stop soon

[jpt2014]

Just thought I'd update for anyone else searching on this topic who may see this post.

 

In my 8th month gluten-free and enjoying the continued settled stomach, will stick with it.

 

Still have brain fog and phlegm, but still hopeful it will lift in time.

 

Seen head and ENT doctors, had all manner of head scans and blood tests. Nothing abnormal found.

 

For the past 7 days I've tried an elimination diet, just veg (not potatos, tomato), fruit (not citrus), rice, sea salt and oil.

It is very boring.

Felt worse for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th day, just back to normal fog/phlegm levels now.

I'm sticking with it to see what happens.

The fog came on slowly so I expect it'll be slow to go.

 

Good luck to anyone else who's having issues, especially the above people who posted.

[jpt2014]

Another update...

10 months gluten-free now.

Still as foggy and phlegmy as ever.

Feels like I've had a large gin and tonic all the time (that's not as good as it sounds).

Still hopeful that it'll improve with time.

 

I did a 3 week elimination diet which was interesting.

Rice, veg (not potatoes, tomatoes or other nightshades), fruit (not citrus), olive oil, salt and nothing else.

It's a good way to lose weight fast but made no difference to my fog/phlegm.

It makes a gluten-free diet feel easy in comparison! I don't recommend it.

[Integrous]

How is your brain fog? I am now 9 months gluten free and passed every neuro test out there, yet still have seen no improvement whatsoever in my brain fog... losing hope. Sending good vibes your way.

[sillyker0nian]

Reading all of these descriptions, I realize I'm going through "brain fog" right now! In the past, I always felt like I was in some sort of weird dream. But, now along with still having that sensation but very rarely, it's mostly: difficulty recalling words, forgetting things mid-sentence (especially when someone interrupts), general exhaustion/fatigue, terrible memory sometimes, hard to recall facts, and probably the most embarrassing is I'm always asking a co-worker at work to double-check my work because it's hard for me to be confident to recall everything and I have to make sure everything is perfect where I work. 

 

*sigh* Yeah, I can't wait to be rid of this. I'll throw a party that day as well, jpt2014. 

[SMRI]

Luckily my fog has mostly lifted.  It is so frustrating sitting at the computer and not being able to type simple words because your brain just won't spell them out for you!!!  It's not 100% gone, but gone enough that I don't feel like a total ditsy person any more!

[1desperateladysaved]

Have you had your Ferritin levels checked?  I had this "pressure" in my head until my ferritin levels came up.

[Peaceflower]

On 19/11/2013 at 7:43 PM, jpt2014 said:

Thanks for taking the time to answer, I much appreciate them.

I'm just over 10 weeks gluten free and as I said before my stomach health is the best it has ever been which is great.

Still brain fogged though, no change.

I've kept a food diary but no matter what I do the fog is dead steady day after day.

 

I know that gluten can prevent vitamin absorption that in turn causes the fog but I've had blood tests several times in the past and my levels are good.

That being the case I'm losing hope that gluten is the problem.

But, gluten and me are through, my stomach is great so I'm sticking with it.

Hopefully there is some other reason why the gluten causes fog that I don't know about and it will suddenly lift.

 

It's good to talk to fellow foggers though, thanks all.

Hi, I have brain fog today for the first time in 3 weeks.  I had cut out all grains and stopped eating rice by chance and had it after 3 weeks and it made me ill.  That was last month.  This time it was a dairy milk ice cream.  I also ate mayonnaise yesterday before I realised it has corn in it.  On a grain free diet with no processed food, so only fruit, veg, meat, no stock cubes or yeast or any additives at all.  Only salt and oil for cooking.  No cereals or 'gluten free' food at all.  I'm actually ok with wispa bars, so I have them with a cup of tea and avoid cheese and tomatoes.

[Ennis-TX]

1 hour ago, Peaceflower said:

Hi, I have brain fog today for the first time in 3 weeks.  I had cut out all grains and stopped eating rice by chance and had it after 3 weeks and it made me ill.  That was last month.  This time it was a dairy milk ice cream.  I also ate mayonnaise yesterday before I realised it has corn in it.  On a grain free diet with no processed food, so only fruit, veg, meat, no stock cubes or yeast or any additives at all.  Only salt and oil for cooking.  No cereals or 'gluten free' food at all.  I'm actually ok with wispa bars, so I have them with a cup of tea and avoid cheese and tomatoes.

It is amazing how well your feel on a paleo diet free of grains and dairy right? PS there is a company that makes mayo out of avacado oil and egg whites if I recall. Coconut secret makes some ungranola paleo bars and coconut chocolate bars that are quite pure, the sauces they have are great for cooking very simple blends minimally processed. >.> I make my own cheese very often, more of a sauce but I am working on making a solid version.